By PAUL GOTHAM
BUFFALO, N.Y — Moments after securing a spot in the state semifinals, Jason Ellis said it best when he talked about what it means to be the last team from the winter season to be playing at Penfield High School.
“Here’s what’s cool,” the ninth-year head coach said. “We get to practice until there’s no more time to practice. No one can tell us when we have to stop. We are going to set our own pace.”
A pivotal fourth-quarter run proved to be the difference as the Patriots (23-1) defeated Section VI champion North Tonawanda (17-7), 62-49 in NYS Class AA quarterfinal action Friday at Buffalo State College.
Coming out of a timeout with 4:13 remaining in regulation, Penfield used a 14-4 advantage to pull away.
“We said we have yet to put together a run where all five guys are touching the basketball,” Ellis said of the discussion during the timeout. “We’ve yet to put together a run where all five guys score.”
On cue, the Patriots responded with exactly what their coach wanted to see.
Jackson Green scored on a tap-in. Ryan Savino followed with a 3-pointer. Jake McCarthy converted off a baseline inbound play with a two-handed slam, and CJ Johnson took advantage of two free throw opportunities.
By the time Aaron Hardaway connected from distance, Penfield had a 57-47 advantage and did not allow the lead to slip within single digits for the remainder of the contest.
“We hadn’t made our run yet, why not make it in the last four,” Ellis said echoing his message during the timeout.
In all, Penfield scored on 10 straight possessions to put the game out of reach.
“We had a lot of good shots,” Ellis said referring to earlier in the game. “Couple things didn’t fall. We had some great interior stuff. The refs really let us play physical which is fun. We’re a big team. We like to play physical, but there are some things we’re not used to playing through that we had to play through today. The adversity was fantastic. I wouldn’t want anything different going into next.”
The Patriots slowed a North Tonawanda team that had made unlikely run as a No. 7 beating No. 2 Sweet Home and No. 1 Orchard Park on the way to Friday’s matchup.
“That’s a one seed if you ask me,” Ellis said of the Lumberjacks. “They’re the biggest team in Class AA in Buffalo. They’re the strongest team in double-A in Buffalo. Jack Giancola, he’s phenomenal. No. 4 (Ethan DeVantier), he crushed us. Those are their two heavy hitters. Truth is, they may have been a ‘Seven seed’ but that league (Niagara-Frontier) beat each other up.”
Johnson led Penfield with 22. McCarthy had 18. Green accounted for 11 points. Savino (6) and Hardaway (5) rounded out the scoring.
DeVantier had 18 for North Tonawanda. Giancola scored 11.
Penfield will play either East Syracuse-Minoa( III) or Seton Catholic (IV) in next weekend’s semifinal.
Go Penfield!! My wife and I live in South Carolina now and continue to follow local Rochester sports. Our children and grandchildren all went to or are presently attending Penfield. Between football and basketball for men and women’s teams, Penfield has come a long way. Keep it going guys!!
Way to go Patriots!! Hope you go all the way!!!